Electric lock



Patented Dec. 11, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC LOCK Harold K. Steiner, Milwaukee, Wis assignor to The Union Switch and Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 7, 1944, Serial No. 562,317

10 Claims.

My invention relates to electric locks, and particularly to locks for preventing the unauthorized operation of railway traflic controlling devices such as switches, derails or the like.

One object of my invention is to provide a simplified form of electric lock which can readily be applied to any of the so-called high type of switch stands.

Another object of my invention is to provide an electric switch lock employing for its release a standard switch key.

According to my invention, the lock comprises a lock body attached to the frame or base of the switch stand, and a lock latch and key barrel assembly which is fastened to the operating handle of the switch stand. The lock latch is operated by a standard switch key and in the normal position of the handle extends into the lock body. The lock body contains an electromagnet which, when deenergized, prevents operation of the latch by the switch key, but which when energized permits the latch to be turned by the switch key to a position. where the latch can be withdrawn from the lock body by lifting the handle of the switch stand. The lock includes contacts operated by the latch in accordance with its position to indicate the locked and unlocked position of the latch.

Other objects and characteristic features of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

I shall describe one form of electric lock embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Figs. 1 and 2 are front and side views, respectively, of a high type switch stand provided with an electric lock embodying my invention. Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detail sectional views of the lock shown in Figs. 1 and 2 taken on the lines IIIIII and IVIV, respectively, of Figs. 2 and 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in all four views.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the switch stand here shown is of the conventional type of high stand, and comprises a vertical switch actuating shaft l rotatably mounted in spaced bearings 2 formed in a suitable base casting or pedestal 3. The pedestal 3 is adapted to be secured to any suitable foundation, such as a pair of the usual crossties, adjacent the railway switch which is to be operated by the stand, and is provided at its upper end with a, quadrant plate 4 which supports a rotatable member or turntable 5 bolted or otherwise secured to the shaft. The shaft I is provided at its lower end with the usual switch operating crank 6 for attachment to the throw rod of the switch, and is arranged to be rotated between two extreme positions corresponding to the two extreme positions of the switch by means of a witch operating handle 1 pivotally attached to the turntable 5 within a housing portion 5a formed integrally with the turntable, which housing portion encloses the upper end of the operating handle. Normally the handle I occupies a depending position, as shown in the drawing, in which position it enters one or the other of two spaced peripheral notches 8 formed in the quadrant plate 4 to retain the parts in the positions they then occupy, but when it is desired to rotate the shaft between its two extreme positions the handle is then rotated to a horizontal position in which it clears the notches. The handle may, if desired, be locked in its vertical position by inserting the bow of a padlock through an eye 1a formed on the upper end of the handle. The eye la is so disposed that it will project through a slot 51) in the housing portion 50. when and only when the handle occupies its depending position.

Switch stands of the type described are in widespread use and their operation is well understood. It is believed to be unnecessary therefore to describe the switch stand in further detail herein.

The electric lock embodying my present invention is intended for application to any conventional switch stand, such as the switch stand just described, and when so applied enables the operation of the switch stand to be remotely controlled over an electrical control circuit.

The look as shown comprises a lock body 9 suitably secured to th pedestal 3 of the switch stand at the side adjacent the operating handle I, and a cooperating lock barrel and latch assembly l0 fastened to the operating handle. The lock body 9 is in the form of a rectangular housing provided at its outer end with a. removable cover 9a, and encloses an electromagnet II, the pole pieces Ha of which cooperate with a magnetizable armature l2 pivotally supported at one end on trunnion screws l3 mounted in a bracket l4 attached to the one pole piece Ha. The armature I2 is biased by gravity to a lowermost position in which it rests on one arm 13a of an emergency trip lever l3 pivotally mounted at 30 below the armature I2. The other arm l3b of the trip lever [B cooperates with the inner end of a push rod l5 slidably mounted in the side of the lock body 9. The push rod [5 is biased to an outer position by a spring [6, and is arranged to be normally secured against movement in this position by a suitable telltale such as a wire seal I], the function of which will be made clear presently. Th outer position of the push rod is determined by a suitable stop Washer 18 mounted on the rod in a position to engage a stop pin I9 extending through the rod on the inside of the lock body. The spring 16 surrounds the push rod between the enlarged head of the rod and the outer side of the lock body as will be obvious.

The lock latch and key assembly I!) comprises a suitable housing 2|] provided in the rear wall thereof with a bearing opening 20a which rotatably receives the bearing portioniib of .a lock barrel 2!. A latch 22 is fastened by mean-sci a screw 23 to the lock barrel in such mannerthat by inserting a key into a key openin Zia formed in the outer end of the lock barrel the lock barrel and latch can be readily rotated relative to the housing 20. To enable the key to be inserted into the key opening 2la the cover- 28b of the housing 20 is provided with a key hole 200. The lock barrel is preferably so constructed that the key opening will receive only one form of key, usually a "standard switch key. The lock latch 22 is intended to extend into the lock body 9 through a latch opening124 provided in the. cover 9a of the lock body, and cooperates Within the body with the armature. t2 and with a set of indication contacts in a manner presently to be described. The parts are so proportioned that the lock latch can only be inserted into orremoved from the lock body 9 through the opening '24 when the operating handle I is rotated to or away from its normal depending position, as shown in 2, and the lock latch 22 is rotated to a horizontal position. The. parts are further so proportioned that whenthe locklatch is inserted into the lockbody it can be rotated in one direction only from its horizontal position through an-angle of substantially 90 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, the limits of rotation of the lock latch being determined by stop pads 25 and 26 provided on the COVer 9a.

The indication contacts referred to above comprise a flexible contact finger 21 which cooperates with two. fixed contact fingers 28 and 2-9 to form contacts 21.;.2 8 and 21-49 The fin ers are all insulatedxfromeach other and-the finger 21 is biased by its. own resiliency tothe position v in which the contact 2l. 28- is closed and the contact 2!.2 ,9'is.open. The finger 2-1 is so disposed that rotation of the lockla-tch 2-2 'to its vertical position will cause the latch to enga e the upper end of the finger .and: move it to the position in-whioh thecontact-2i 28 isopen'an the. contact 2.1-2.9;isclosed. l

Normally, the parts all occupy the positions shown. That is to say;the operating handle nor;- mally occupies its depending position in which it is opposite the lock body 9,, the lock latch is normally disposed within the lock body and is rotated to the vertical position shown in Fig. 3, the push rod l;'iis held in'its'outer position both by the spring lfi'andby the seal' H, and'the electromagnet l I. is deenergized. With the'parts in these positions the upper end of the lock latch is disposed between the end of the armature l2 and the stop .padj25, and as a resu t it is impossible to rotate the lock latch" to the pos tion to withdraw it from the lock body. It will be seen, therefore, that under these conditions the operating handle 1 is effectively locked by the lock in its normal, position. Furthermore, under these conditions the contactZl-ZQ is closed, and this contact may therefore be used to provide an indication that the switch is locked in its normal position.

When it is desired to reverse the switch, a standard switch key is inserted through the key hole 280 and into the lock barrel 2|. If conditions are then safe to reverse the switch, the electromagnet II will be energized by virtue of its control circuit (not shown because this circuit forms no part of the present invention and is well known) and as a result the armature IE will be moved to its raised or attracted position. This movement of the armature will lift it out .of the path of movement of the lock latch, and

the lock latch may therefore be readily rotated by the switch key through a quarter of a revolution to the position in which it engages the stop pad 26. In this position of the lock latch it will ,align with the opening 24, and the switch operating handle I may therefore be raised to its horizontal position to operate the switch to its reverse position in the customary manner. When the switch reaches its reverse-position thehandle I will then align with a second notch .8 in the quadrant plate 4 so that the handle ixm-ay-be dropped to its depending position to retain the switch points in their reverse positions. In this latter position of the handle, it will not. be opposite the lock body so that the electric lock will not be effective. The rotation of the lock latch to the position in which it aligns with the opening 24 will permit the contact 21-.29 to open and the contact 2.128 to become closed, to thereby give an indication that the switch stand is unlocked.

After the switch. has been reversed as above described, and it is desired to restore the switch to. its normal locked condition, the operator will reverse. the switch by means of the handle 1 in the usual manner and will then. lower the handle to the positionshown, making sure-that. thelock latch is turned to. the positiontoenter the open.- ingM. The operator willthen rotatethe latch by means of his switch key through an angle of to restore it tothe position. shown. lithe magnet isdeenergized when this rotationoccurs, as will usually be the case,. the armature 12 will be raised by engagement with the latch until the latch clears the armature whereuponthearmature will drop back to its normal. released position in which it is shown in. Fig.. 3.. The. restoration of the latch. t-oits locking positionwill open. contact 2.'l-Z8.and will close contact 21-29., so that all parts will then. be restored to the position shown.

If theelectromagnet I I should not be energized when itisdesired to unlockthe switch, the armature l2 will remain in its released position due to its gravity bias, and will prevent rotation of the lock latch from its looking to itsunlocking position. Under these conditions, the switch canbe unlocked by first breaking and removing the seal I1 and then pushing the push rod 15 to thereby raise. the armature l2 out of thepath ofrotationof. the lock latch. The breaking of'the seal l'i willleave a tell-tale that the switch has been unlocked. and will thus compel thetrainman to report his reasons for operating the switch at a time when it is locked. Since. the trainman is required to report this abnormaloperation of the apparatus, it is felt that he will only resort to this type of operation in the. case of necessity.

One advantage of an electric lock embodying my. invention is that it is simple to construct and maintain and can readily be applied to anyof the usual high types of switch stands.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of electric lock embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. In combination with a switch stand including an operating handle, a lock body attached to said switch stand, a lock latch and key barrel assembly attached to said handle in such position that said latch will extend into said lock body in the normal position of said handle, said latch being at times rotatable within said lock body by means of' a key inserted into said key barrel between a locking position in which it prevents movement of said handle from its normal position and an unlocking position in which movement of said handle is permitted, and electrically controlled means in said lock body effective when deenergized but not when energized to prevent rotation of said latch away from its looking position.

2. In combination with a switch stand including an operating handle for manually operat ng a railway switch, a lock body attached to said switch stand, key operated means attached to said handle and including a latch which extends into said lock body in one position of said handle and which latch is rotatable with n said body between a latching position in which it prevents movement of said handle away from said one position and an unlatching position, and electrically controlled means in said lock body efiective when deenergized to prevent rotation of said latch away from its latching position.

3. In combination with a switch stand including an operating handle, a lock body attached to said switch stand, a lock latch and key barrel assembly attached to said handle in such position that said latch will extend into said lock body in the normal position of said handle, said latch being at times rotatable within said lock body by means of a key inserted into said key barrel between a locking position in which it prevents movement of said handle from its normal position and an unlocking position in which movement of said handle is permitted, electrically controlled means in said lock body efiective when deenergized but not when energized to prevent rotation of said latch away from its locking position, and indication contacts controlled in accordance with the position of said latch.

4. In combination with a switch stand including an'operating handle for manually operating a railway switch. a lock body attached to said switch stand, key operated means attached to said handle and including a latch which extends into said lock body in one position of said handle and which latch is rotatable within said body between a latch ng position in which it prevents movement of said handle away from said one position and an unlatching position. electrically control ed means in said lock body effective when deenergized to prevent rotation of said latch away from its latching position, and indication contacts controlled by said latch.

5. In combination with a switch stand includ ing an operating handle. a lock body attached to said switch stand, a lock latch and key barrel assembly attached to said handle in such position that sa d latch will extend into said lock body in the normal position of said handle, said latch being at times rotatable within said lock body between a locking position in which it prevents movement of said handle from its normal position and an unlocking position in which movement of said handle is permitted, electrically controlled means in said lock body efiective when deenergized but not when energized to prevent rotation of said latch away from its locking position, and emergency release means for at times permitting movement of said latch to its unlatching position when said electrically controlled means is deenergized.

6. In combination with a switch stand including an operating handle for manually operating a railway switch, a lock body attached to said switch stand, key operated means attached to said handle and including a latch which extends into said lock body in one position of said handle and which latch is rotatable within said body between a latching position in which it prevents movement of said handle away from said one position and an unlatching position, electrically controlled means in said lock body effective when deenergized to prevent rotation of said latch away from its latching position, and emergency release means for at times permitting movement of said latch to its unlatching position when said electrically controlled means is deenergized.

'7. In combination with a switch stand including an operating handle for manually operating a railway switch, a lock latch and key barrel assembly attached to said handle, a lock body attached to said stand and provided with an opening which receives said latch when and only when said handle occupies its normal position, said latch being rotatable within said body by means of a key inserted into said key barrel from the position in which said latch enters said opening through an angle of substantially to a latching position in which it looks said handle in its normal position, an electromagnet in said housing, and an armature controlled by said electromagnet and biased by gravity to a position in which it is effective to prevent rotation of said latch away from its latching position.

8. In combination with a switch stand including an operating handle for manually operating a railway switch, a lock latch and key barrel assembly attached to said handle, a lock body attached to said stand and provided with an opening which receives said latch when and only when said handle occupies its normal position, said latch being rotatable within said body by means of a key inserted into said key barrel from the position in which said latch enters said opening through an angle of substantially 90 to a latching position in which it looks said handle in its normal position, an electromagnet in said housing, an armature controlled by said electromagnet and biased by gravity to a position in which it is effective to prevent rotation. of said latch away from its latching position, and contacts selectively controlled in accordance with the position of said latch.

9. In combination with a switch stand including an operating handle for manually operating a railway switch, a lock latch and key barrel assembly attached to said handle, a lock body attached to said stand and provided with an opening which receives said latch when and only when said handle occupies its normal position, said latch being rotatable within said body by means of a key inserted into said key barrel from the position in which said latch enters said opening through an angle ofsubstantially 90 to a latch-- ingposition in which it-locks said handle in its normal position, an electromagnet in said housing, an armature controlled by said electromagnet and biased by gravity to a position in which it is effective to prevent rotation of said latch away from its latching position, and means in said lock body for at times manually moving said armature to its attracted position to permit rotation of said latch away from its latching position when said electromagnet is deenergiz-ed.

10. In combination with aswitch standincluding an operating handle for manually operating a rail-way switch, a lock latch and key barrel assembly attached to said handle, a lock body attached to said stand and provided with an opening which receives said latch when and only when said handle occupies its normal position,

said latch being rotatable within said body :by means of a key inserted into saidkeybarrl from the position in which said latch enters said Opening through an angle of substantially 90 to a latching position in which it looks said handle in its normalposition, an e'lectromagnet in said housing, an armature controlled by said electromagnet and biased by gravity to a position in which it is effective to prevent rotation of said latch away from its latching position, and means in said lock body for at times manually moving said armature to its attracted position to permit rotation of said latch away from its-latching position when said electromagnet is deenergized, said last mentioned means being provided with a telltale to indicate when it is operated.

HAROLD K. STEINE'R. 

